Published on: 2026-05-08
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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During the May Day holidays, cross-border tourism in China demonstrated high activity. The growing demand of Chinese tourists for a more diverse tourist experience contributes to the accelerated improvement and modernization of the tourism industry in destination countries. At the same time, more and more foreign travelers are choosing trips to China to get acquainted with the Chinese way of life and to feel the charm of Chinese culture.Observers from several countries note that the steady recovery of China’s tourism market exerts a noticeable external effect, giving a new impetus to the development of the global tourism industry.
Assistance in improving the quality of services in different countries
Many industry representatives draw attention to the fact that during the May Day holidays this year, Chinese tourists continued to travel abroad actively. And the increasing demand for diverse and more substantive trips contributes to the improvement of local products and services, as well as the modernization of the tourism industry.
Governments of various countries, as well as specialized organizations, are actively striving to use the consumer activity brought by Chinese tourists, undertaking a number of measures for their reception. In the short term, this includes the introduction of visa-free regimes, increased frequency of flights, and improved payment convenience; in the long term — improved navigation and excursion support in the Chinese language, development of more substantial tourist routes for Chinese tourists, as well as strengthening cooperation with travel agencies from China.
Outbound tourism in China is gaining popularity
The interest of foreign tourists in traveling to China continues to grow, and the geography of inbound tourism destinations continues to expand. According to data from a tourism platform, during the May Day holidays of this year, the flow of tourists to regions unconventional for inbound tourism, such as Heilongjiang, Guizhou, Hunan, Xinjiang, and Shaanxi, increased by more than 60%. When it comes to the countries of origin of tourists, Russia leads: the number of trips increased by 120.1% year-on-year, and Russian tourists took first place both in terms of the number of trips and growth rates.
Thanks to the fact that services related to visa processing, payments, and air communication with China are becoming increasingly convenient and improved, many foreign tourists no longer limit themselves to a simple trip to China “just for the sake of a tick”, but strive to get closer to the everyday life of the Chinese.
According to the South China Morning Post website, South Korean video bloggers with cameras in their hands are flocking to major Chinese cities, using the streets of megacities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen as picturesque backgrounds for their travel videos. In 2025, China was visited by about 3.16 million tourists from the Republic of Korea, which is 36.9% more than in 2024. This is the highest growth rate among all popular foreign destinations for South Korean tourists.
The Australian publication Brisbane Times reports that China has become the fifth most popular destination for travellers from Australia. “For many people, China’s attractions are just the beginning,” noted Simon Bell, managing director of the Australian travel agency Wendy Wu Tours. According to him, more and more Australians in China are venturing beyond the main tourist attractions in search of a “deeper immersion and a personalized experience.”
Two-way traffic towards mutual benefit
Observers note that the high popularity of cross-border tourism during the May Day holidays in China reflects the country’s enormous potential in the global tourism market, and its large-scale external effect on the world economy is becoming increasingly evident.
“China remains the most influential country in global tourism, setting the benchmarks for the scale of tourist flows and economic impact,” reports the website of the American magazine Travel Around the World. The sharp increase in the number of trips during the May Day holidays highlights the growing tourist demand in China.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2025 China’s tourism economy will have grown by 9.9%, which is more than twice the global average. At the same time, the growth in foreign tourists in China exceeded 10%. The organization also forecasts that by 2030 China could become the world’s largest tourism economy.
Please note; This information is raw content, obtained directly from the source of the information. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims, and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.